Compare towns
Warren vs Florida vs Ware vs West Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the most renters (35.5% rent).
Florida has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Ware has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
West Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Warren | Florida | Ware | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009 |
668Lowest |
10,048Highest |
3,859 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
| West Brookfield and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Warren and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Brookfield and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.3% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
34%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
$86,875±$17k 16% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$95,613±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
| West Brookfield and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$354,000±$21kHighest 37% below MA |
| West Brookfield and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174 49% below MA |
$867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,236±$271Highest 30% below MA |
| West Brookfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530Highest 24% below MA |
$1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,260 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4 MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15Highest MA: 18.6% |
| West Brookfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #165 of 282 in MA | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Florida | Ware | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.